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Yes you can and here's how.MMMM….WE ALL KNOW HOW COMFORTING A WARM CUP OF MILK IS, SO IT’S NOT SURPRISING THAT MANY BABIES LIKE IT IN THEIR TUMMIES LIKE THIS TOO.When babies take milk from the breast, it's at blood temperature so milk doesn’t have to be warmed for babies to like it – room temperature is fine too. But if you choose to then, then warming breast milk is completely safe and easy to do. Depending on where you are, you might like to consider these different options:
At the risk of sounding like we’re finger-wagging please, please remember never to heat breast milk in a microwave or boil it. It will destroy all the good stuff and you are also at risk of burning your baby’s mouth, as it can create hot spots. Ever wondered why people squirt milk on their wrists to test the temperature? The skin here is thin and sensitive, just like your baby’s, so this serves as a reliable guide. It should feel warm not hot. All OK? Then you’re good to feed! Want to know what other mum's say about breastfeeding? Thoughts from Mums on expressing We'll give you the Tommee Tippee low down on pumping and we can promise you it's important, but definitely not sexy. Read More Expressing milk means squeezing milk out of your breast so you can store it and feed it to your baby later. You might want to express milk if: You can express milk by hand or with a breast pump. How often you express your milk, and how much you express, will depend on why you're doing it. Sometimes it takes a little while for your milk to start flowing. Try to choose a time when you feel relaxed. Having your baby (or a photo of them) nearby may help your milk to flow. You may find it easier to express if you cover your breasts with a warm towel first, or after you have a shower or bath. Some find it easier to express milk by hand,
especially in the first few days or weeks. It also means you can express without needing a pump, or an electricity supply. Hand expressing allows you to encourage milk to flow from a particular part of the breast. This may be useful, for example, if one of the milk ducts in your breast becomes blocked. Hold a sterilised feeding bottle or container below your breast to catch the milk as it flows. These
tips may help:
Watch a video about expressing milk by hand on the UNICEF website Expressing milk with a breast pumpThere are 2 different types of breast pump: manual (hand-operated) and electric. Manual pumps are cheaper but may not be as quick as an electric pump. You may be able to hire an electric pump. Your midwife, health visitor or a local breastfeeding supporter can give you details of pump hire services near you. The suction strength can be altered on some electric pumps. Build up slowly. Setting the strength to high straightaway may be painful or damage your nipple. You may also be able to get different funnel (the part that goes over your nipple) sizes to fit your nipples. The pump should never cause bruising or catch your nipple as it's sucked into the funnel. Always make sure that the pump and container are clean and sterilised before you use them. Find out how to sterilise baby bottles Storing breast milkYou can store breast milk in a sterilised container or in special breast milk storage bags:
Breast milk that's been cooled in the fridge can be carried in a cool bag with ice packs for up to 24 hours. Storing breast milk in small quantities will help avoid waste. If you're freezing it, make sure you label and date it first. Defrosting frozen breast milkIt's best to defrost frozen breast milk slowly in the fridge before giving it to your baby. If you need to use it straight away, you can defrost it by putting it in a jug of warm water or holding it under running warm water. Once it's defrosted, give it a gentle shake if it has separated. Use it straight away. Do not re-freeze milk that's been defrosted. Once your baby has drunk from a bottle of breast milk it should be used within 1 hour and anything left over should be thrown away. Warming breast milkYou can feed expressed milk straight from the fridge if your baby is happy to drink it cold. Or you can warm the milk to body temperature by putting the bottle in a jug of warm water or holding it under running warm water. Do not use a microwave to heat up or defrost breast milk. This can cause hot spots, which can burn your baby's mouth. Storing breast milk if your baby is in hospitalIf you're expressing breast milk because your baby is premature or sick, ask the hospital staff caring for your baby for advice on how to store it. Read more about breastfeeding a premature or sick baby. If you're having difficulty expressing breast milkIf you're finding it difficult or uncomfortable to express your breast milk:
The Bliss website also has advice about expressing milk for a premature or sick baby How do you warm up breast milk from the fridge?If you decide to warm the breast milk, here are some tips: Keep the container sealed. Place the sealed container into a bowl of warm water or hold it under warm, but not hot, running water for a few minutes. Test the milk's temperature before feeding it to your baby by putting a few drops on your wrist.
Do I need to warm up my breast milk from the fridge?Guidelines for Offering Breast Milk.
Breast milk does not have to be warmed to give to your baby. It can be offered cold or at room temperature. Your baby may prefer warm breast milk, because the temperature of milk from your breast is warmer.
How do you warm up a bottle of breastmilk?Warm the bottle in warm − not boiling − water by one of these two methods:. Put the bottle in a container of warm water for a few minutes.. Run warm tap water over the bottle for a few minutes.. Can babies drink cold breastmilk?Is it safe to feed babies cold milk? Yes, it's safe to feed your baby cold milk. In fact, frozen breast milk can be used as a form of pain relief for teething babies!
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